Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-11-18
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Regular Correspondence of the Standard.
WASHINGTON. Nov. >. 1887


The President has held but one pub
lic reception since his return and that
was early this week, when he shook
hands with 300 persons. It's believed
1t is not his intention to resume his
regular receptions until after the meet
ing of Congress.
"A delegation representing the Brit
ish House of Commons and the Trades
Union Congress waited upon Mr..
Cleveland this week in the interest of
their scheme of arbitration to settle
international differences by peaceful
methods rather than the usual resort
to armed conflicts. Right Honorable
Lyon Playfair, NJ. p, was the chief
spokesman for the visitors, and he set
forth the object of their endeavor in
eloquent and impressive manner-the
President gracefully responding to
his address and cordially reciprocating
the amicablc utterances of the dis
tinguished Englishman.
Preparations are still in progress for
the meeting of Congress, and there is
much discussion about the prelimin-
airy movements, such as the organiza-
ton of the House and the formation
of the important committees. There
will be more new members than for
many years past, and in consequence,
the committee will have to be almost
wholly re-organized. Among those
relegated to be the quiet pursuits of
private life are the chairman and
three members of the committee on
ways and mears, three members of the
appropriations committee, and nine of
the fourteen members of the committee
on elections, and SO on through the
long list-so that the Speaker will
have to make room for great deal
of raw material, as it were. So far as
the offices are concerned, it is believed
there wiz be no contest, except for
the position of door-keeper of the
House, for which three or more candi-
dates, including the the present incum-
bent, are aspiring.
The session will probably be fruitful
of new and radical schemes of legisla-
ton, among which 1 will mention in
addition to those heretofore enumerat-
ed, a bill to restrict foreign immigration
that is, of the vicious element
and the paternal idea to take the tele-
graph under the fostering care of the
General Government, which in its evil
and contralizing tendencies may be
regarded as fit companion-piece to
the inquitous Blair Educational bill.
If the United States takes control of
the telegraph system of the country,
the next move will be au absorption
of the railroad lines. Such legislative
measures flourish in despotic govern
ments like Russia and Turkey, but
they are foreign to the soil of the land
of the free and the home of the brave,
and do not think this unrepublican
legislation can be engrafted upon our
tree of liberty, as least as long as the
great Democratic party stands as the
guardian of the constitution and the
hope Of the republican system.
The Postmaster General has raised
quite commetiOn among merchants
by his enforcement of the law prohibit
ing the mailing of packages of third
and fourth class matter in advertising
wrappers. 1t appears that the re-
gulation has been regarded as a dead
letter for years, but in his recent revis-
ion of the rules, Mr.. Villas ordered that
it be made effective; thus such arti-
cles can only be sent as first-class
matter.
Can it be that the office seekers are
at least satisfied? 1t would appear so
from the statement of Secretary Bay
ard, who says that the dignified and
responsible Office of First Assistant
Secretary of State goes begging-that
no one will take the place-that is, of
those whom he would wish to have it.
So here is an opportunity for those
patriots whose innate modesty has
hitherto prevented them from heed
ing the call of duty to assert their
claims to public Office.
The reduction of the national debt
for the first four months OF the current
fiscal year was $4O,736,O35, the total
debt now, less cash in the Treasury,
being 81 ,23s ,592 ,7Ol, while the inter-
est bearing debt is something small
er. There was clear gain of two
million and a half dollars in Govern
ment receipts that month over the
amount received for the same time
last year.
President Cleveland, Secretary
Whitney, and Colonel Lamont have
subscribed very literally to the New
York Democratic Campaign fund.-
the first 1000, the second $500, and
lhe third $3.50, and besides, many de-
partment clerks have handsomely con-
tributed to the same purpose. Dem.
TILE Odd Fellows of Sprague are